Resolutions?

[Ian]

One week and no alcohol, my dryathalon to raise cash for cancer research is going good and i'm sleeping so much better too.

Well done Ray. I don't usually have a problem sleeping after alcohol, its the waking up the following morning...

[Ian]

Good start Ian. At around 250 miles per week and say 5 rides that is 50 miles which even on the road is 3 hours probably. Hard to do with a job and family. Good luck.

I haven't worked out the proportion of road miles, but each ride has had good proportion of off road in it and/or been a dedicated off road ride.

It is certainly requiring some careful planning around family and work!

[Ray Young]

One week and no alcohol, my dryathalon to raise cash for cancer research is going good and i'm sleeping so much better too.

Well done Ray. I don't usually have a problem sleeping after alcohol, its the waking up the following morning...

Thanks Ian, I wake up at around 3 or 4 AM and can't get back to sleep for an hour or two. No wonder I feel tired the day after after drinking!

[MM-on-POINT]

@flatfish.
any and all if you would, i would reference them for the future and plan trips around their locations.
We are Moving to northeast wales in 2 months and would love to find more local ones, i have seen the ones on MBA but i wouldnt know where to look for other ones!

[Taylor]

All the ones I've found recently are North of England or Scotland.
Other than the location of the new MBA one, which hasn't got a roof on yet, I don't know of any other Welsh ones.
Do you wan't those?

[MM-on-POINT]

I have already found and going to dulyn bothy in feb, I was more interested in if there are any non mba bothies in north wales.
Thanks all the same.

[Bearbonesnorm]

I have already found and going to dulyn bothy in feb

If you're planning on staying, I'd advise that you also carry some alterative so you can kip outside ... it really is tiny.

[Cheeky Monkey]

Doesn't it have two rooms anymore or am I thinking of somewhere else? I imagine it'd fit 10 at a push?

If you want tiny there was one me and a mate stayed in up in the Cairngoirms (IIRC) who's name I forget but was a very intimate 2 man bothy resembling little more than a cairn.

[MM-on-POINT]

Thanks s8tannorm, I was planning on taking full kit for a wild camp in case it was occupied, the bothy is more a point of interest if i get to stay in it that would be a bonus.
Do you have Any recommendations close to bothy for a wild camp where i could have a fire (the fire is not a must)?
Oh and i am solo on this trip my wing man had a crazy bizarre accident so can not ride for a while :(

[Bearbonesnorm]

Doesn't it have two rooms anymore or am I thinking of somewhere else? I imagine it'd fit 10 at a push?

CM you must be thinking of somewhere else. Two would be okay, three would be a proper squeeze.

Do you have Any recommendations close to bothy for a wild camp where i could have a fire (the fire is not a must)?

There's a lovely flat piece of ground about 100yds from the bothy if you approach on the track from the minor road. Whether you stay in the bothy or not you'll need to carry all your fuel in for a fire. Can I suggest that if you were to have a fire outside, to knock up some kind of 'stove' it'd be a real shame to scorch the ground with a fire ring.

[MM-on-POINT]

Can I suggest that if you were to have a fire outside, to knock up some kind of 'stove' it'd be a real shame to scorch the ground with a fire ring.

I agree with you there, i only need a fire in my stove for cooking i cant have one for any reason i will use a esbit block.

[Mart]

If you want tiny there was one me and a mate stayed in up in the Cairngoirms (IIRC) who's name I forget but was a very intimate 2 man bothy resembling little more than a cairn.

Wasnt this one was it - one of the smaller ones around http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1397156

[Cheeky Monkey]

Stu - I was thinking of the one up by Dulyn Reservoir:



I haven't been for many years though so maybe it's changed somehow. Seem to remember having 5 or 6 of us in it first time round :?

Mart - looks familiar, although I thought it was set in more of a boulder field. Again, a long time ago and a cold old night 8-)

[Bearbonesnorm]

Sorry, sorry, sorry ... you are correct and I'm having an off day. Lots of room at Dulyn, it's Arenig that's tiny.

@ MM-on-POINT if you do need to pitch up at DULYN then there's a few good, flat spots not far from the bothy.

[Cheeky Monkey]

Nae bother. Just good to stay up to speed on places 8-)

[Ray Young]

Hi all, I have now achieved two weeks as a Cancer Research UK Dryathlete and not touched a drop of alcohol in that time. In the last 15 years the longest I have gone without a beer was three days so i think i'm doing pretty good. Only got another two weeks to go.
I know most of you out there don't know me personally but if you would like to sponsor me then you can do so by texting the code BRPY 63 and an amount (£1,£2 etc) to 70070. So far i have been pledged £80 by family and friends, all proceeds go to Cancer Research UK.
If you want to know more just look up "Dryathlon" on the net.
Thanks for reading this and a great big thank you if you decide to donate, Ray .

[Ian]

Right then, January is all done.

Here's where I got to with my 1000 miles. The month didn't pan out like I expected. Work got in the way and then the snow came which made doing longer distances difficult.

Week 1: 323.3 km (6 days)
Week 2: 243.2 km
Week 3: 40.4 km (work)
Week 4: 80.0 km (snow)
Week 5: 317.8 km (4 days)

TOTAL: 1005.7 km

16 Rides, 625 miles, 16,151m ascent, 59h 23m.

I didn't get to 1000 miles, but even though weeks 3 and 4 were a bit light on distance I think I needed a certain amount of recovery from the previous two weeks and El'an Back, in order to pull off the 197 miles I've just done this week...

Physically I feel pretty good. Legs tired today obviously and this evenings 50km was somewhat laboured after 124km the day before, but overall OK.

The bikes on the other hand are in a bit of a state:

Pegasus - rear wheel bearings shot, freewheel making odd noises, rotors and pads knackered, chain worn.
Kite - front wheel bearings shot, freewheel bearings shot, chain worn, rear tyre now bald, both pairs of brake pads worn down to nothing :?

Still, it was a good challenge and even though I didn't get to 1000 (at least in miles) the point was it motivated me to get out more than I probably would have done. It also helps put into context the magnitude of the Highland Trail: 430 miles in ~5 days

And this is my 1000'th post too - I'll wait for someone to tell me I need get out and ride my bike more

[Blackhound]

Still a good achievement Ian considering weather and using only a singlespeed. I suspect (hoping!) that HRT 430 will not be so bad. All you have to do is ride your bike. None of that pesky work to get in the way.

Was thinking of aiming for 1,000km in February. I was ill at the start of the year and first ride was on the 8th. Totals for January was 402km + a further 4 hours on the turbo.

[gairym]

Them's some mighty impressive numbers fella.

I tell you what - it's pretty demoralising stuff comparing stats with you on strava!

Seriously well done for what you've managed to achieve this month.

Next month???

[FLV]

Nice going Ian.

My targets are somewhat more modest that yours. I'm aiming for a measly average of 833km each month, 10000km this year.
Unfortunately I failed miserably and only got to just over 500km. Granted the snow got me a bit but given that I only came up with the target halfway through I'm not too dissapointed.

Good luck with february!

[Dan_K]

Nice work. Have been following your rides on Strava. Not easy miles either!

[royAB]

Draw more. Paint more. Ride more...

[Ian]

Thanks for the replies chaps.

February: initially rest and bike maintenance!

I'll probably keep the big rides up over the next few weeks before working on some shorter faster sessions at the end of Feb and into March. I have some big challenges planned in the lead up the HTR.

I tell you what - it's pretty demoralising stuff comparing stats with you on strava!

It's funny that last year when my motivation was at an all time low, Strava gave me the incentive to get out there :)

[Ray Young]

Well that's it, one month, no alcohol. Won't say it was easy because it wasn't. I raised about £80 for cancer research. In myself I feel much better, I used to feel tired a lot of the time, I sleep much better, have more money in my pocket, the wife drinks less too which she's very happy about and she thinks I look healthier. One thing I found difficult was finding things to do to fill my time as alcohol is just such easy entertainment. I didn't lose any weight as I ate more at times of boredom. Cycling wise there's not much difference but getting out of bed for a ride is easier. Will I keep it up, no, but I have promised myself to try and drink only one day a week, probably wine with Sunday dinner.

[Blackhound]

Ray - well done. I usually drink once a week on a Saturday night. Bottle of wine and some of Scotland's finest with Mrs B. Must admit I can take it or leave it, purely social for me. Prefer peppermint tea - less calories & cheaper than beer as well!